Parcel at Canary Customs — Step-by-Step Guide
Your parcel stuck at Canary customs on Tenerife or Gran Canaria? Quick release: H7 form, documents, release tips.
You got a notification from DHL, Correos, GLS, FedEx, UPS, MRW or SEUR: your parcel is stuck at customs in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote or Fuerteventura. What does that mean and how do you get it released as fast as possible? This guide walks you step-by-step through parcel release on the Canaries.
Why is my parcel stuck at Canary customs?
Parcels shipped from EU mainland (or third countries like China, USA, UK) to the Canaries must go through customs clearance. The islands are not part of the EU customs territory. So every shipment — no matter how cheap — needs an official declaration.
Until that declaration is submitted, the parcel waits at the customs warehouse. Common reasons for delay:
- You haven't replied to the carrier email yet (action required)
- The H7 form hasn't been submitted
- The invoice is missing or unclear
- Recipient's NIF/NIE wasn't provided
- Wrong address on the parcel label (often typos like "tenerifa")
- IGIC not yet paid
What do the carrier status messages mean?
Each carrier uses its own wording. Plain-English translations:
| Carrier status | What it means | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| "Shipment at customs" | Parcel waiting for declaration | Submit H7 form |
| "Action required" | You must do something | Check carrier portal |
| "Customs declaration pending" | Declaration in progress | Wait or self-file H7 |
| "Documents requested" | Invoice missing | Upload PDF |
| "Payment pending" | IGIC outstanding | Pay online |
| "Released for delivery" | All clear, parcel coming | Wait 1–3 days |
| "Storage fees apply" | Over 7 days at warehouse | Act fast or return-to-sender |
Step-by-step parcel release
Step 1: Read carrier notification
Open the email or SMS from the carrier. You'll find:- Tracking ID
- Customs case number
- Link to carrier portal
- Action prompt: "Submit H7 form" or "Upload invoice"
Step 2: Prepare documents
You'll need:- Invoice from the seller (PDF, JPG or PNG)
- NIF/NIE (your Spanish tax ID)
- Tracking number
- Sender + recipient data (name, address, country)
- Goods description (what's inside?)
Step 3: Fill out the H7 form
Two options:Option A — Yourself via ImportCanariasFacil (recommended):
- Free for the first form
- €8.95 per additional form or €48.95/month unlimited
- OCR: upload invoice, fields auto-fill
- Takes 5 minutes
- PDF generated immediately
Option B — Carrier handles it:
- Surcharge €25–60 (depending on carrier)
- Longer processing
- You enter data in the carrier portal, they generate the H7
Step 4: Pay IGIC
7% on goods value + shipping is the standard rate. Example: €100 goods + €15 shipping = €8.05 IGIC. Pay either through the carrier or via the customs portal.
Step 5: Get release
After successful submission and payment you receive a release confirmation. Delivery within 1–3 working days.Common problems and solutions
"My parcel has been stuck for days at Tenerife customs"
In 90% of cases it's because you didn't act — customs is waiting for action from your side. Open the carrier portal, check status, submit H7.
"Customs is asking for an invoice"
You probably only got an order confirmation, not an actual invoice. Solution: log into your online-shop account, download the PDF invoice, upload to carrier portal.
"My parcel is stuck on Tenerife and the carrier doesn't respond"
Different searches describe the same problem: "parcel stuck Tenerife", "why is my parcel stuck on Tenerife", "parcel at Tenerife customs". For silent carriers:
- Contact local customs directly (Customs Tenerife: [email protected])
- Charge back via PayPal/credit card
- Complain to the seller
"Storage fees being charged"
After 7 working days at the customs warehouse, fees of typically €5–15 per day apply. Act fast or savings get eaten up.
"Parcel returned"
After 30 days without declaration the parcel is automatically returned to the sender — and you bear the return cost. Avoid this by acting within the first few days.
Special cases
Gift shipment (C2C)
- No invoice exists
- Value declared by sender or recipient
- H7 still required (C2C variant)
- IGIC still applies
Return to sender
- Export declaration instead of import
- Sender's customs authority must register the return
- IGIC usually not refunded by carrier
Multiple parcels of one order
Some shops split big orders. Each parcel is declared separately — that gets expensive. Tip: ask the seller to ship everything in one parcel.How long does customs wait for you?
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1–7 | Parcel at customs warehouse, free |
| Day 8–14 | Storage fees apply (€5–15/day) |
| Day 15–30 | Carrier reminders, fees rising |
| Day 30+ | Parcel returned to sender |
How to avoid problems next time
- Spell the address correctly: postal code 35xxx (Las Palmas) or 38xxx (Tenerife). No typos like "tenerifa".
- Provide NIF/NIE at order time (some shops have fields for it)
- Prefer IOSS sellers: IGIC is paid at order time
- Keep value under €150 → H7 instead of DUA → cheaper
- Bundle orders instead of many small parcels
What Import Canarias Facil does — and what you do
Import Canarias Facil is not a customs broker. We are a guided online tool that helps you fill out the H7 form (invoice OCR, validation, PDF download). We explain step by step what to do as the recipient of a parcel ≤ €150 — whether your shipment is C2C (gift from a private sender) or B2C (Amazon, AliExpress, online shops).
What we do:
- Guided workflow for the H7 form with OCR recognition of your invoice
- PDF export of the completed form
- Step-by-step instructions for the next actions (carrier submission, payment, release)
What you as the parcel recipient do:
- Submit the completed H7 PDF to your carrier (DHL, Correos, FedEx, UPS, etc.) or upload it via the AEAT portal
- Pay IGIC (7% on goods + shipping) + carrier handling fee
- Obtain customs clearance and arrange final delivery
Communication with logistics companies and customs authorities stays between you and them. We do not act on your behalf.
Related articles
- Customs on the Canary Islands — full guide
- Documents for Canary customs
- DHL, FedEx, UPS — carrier comparison
- Calculate customs fees
FAQ
How long does parcel release take after H7 submission?
Usually 24 hours after successful filing + payment. With some carriers (Correos, GLS) up to 3 working days.
What does carrier handling typically cost?
DHL: €15–25. FedEx: €25–50. UPS: €30–60. Correos: €5–12. GLS: €10–20. Self via ImportCanariasFacil: €0–8.95.
My parcel is stuck on Tenerife and I hear nothing more — what should I do?
Check tracking, open carrier portal, submit H7. If carrier doesn't respond: contact customs directly or charge back.
Do I need an H7 form for a gift?
Yes. C2C shipments without invoice still need declaration — with value declaration instead of invoice.
What if I do nothing?
After 7 days storage fees, after 30 days the parcel goes back to the sender. You still pay return costs.
Release your parcel — start H7 now →
Practical example 1: Tenerife student orders a textbook
Maria, a student in La Laguna, orders a specialist book on Amazon.de for €65 (€8 shipping). She is surprised that during checkout the note "Delivery may be delayed" appears. A week later DHL emails her: "Parcel at customs, action required."
What happens in detail:
- Customs is waiting for the H7 form (value below €150 → simplified version)
- Maria has to pay IGIC: 7% of €73 = €5.11
- DHL offers self-clearance handling for €18
Maria has two options:
- Option A: DHL handles it → final price: 65 + 8 + 5.11 + 18 = €96.11
- Option B: H7 self-filed via ImportCanariasFacil → final price: 65 + 8 + 5.11 + 0 (first form free) = €78.11
Saving: €18. For future orders she pays €8.95 per H7 — still cheaper than the carrier handling fee.
Practical example 2: Hamburg family sends a gift to grandparents on Lanzarote
Bea and Klaus from Hamburg send a box with family photos, a book and chocolate to grandma's 80th birthday — estimated total value €45. They use DHL Standard.
What happens with the shipment?
- Reaches customs on Lanzarote
- Carrier contacts the grandparents: C2C shipment, value declaration needed
- Grandma (86) is overwhelmed by the customs portal
Solution: her grandson Diego (lives on Tenerife) takes over:
- Logs into ImportCanariasFacil
- Selects C2C workflow
- Enters estimated value €45
- Ticks "no invoice available"
- IGIC: 7% on €45 = €3.15
- H7 PDF generated in 5 minutes
- Grandma pays €3.15 online → parcel released within 24 hours
Lesson: even C2C shipments need an H7. With help from a digitally-savvy family member, it's manageable.
Deep-dive: How exactly is IGIC calculated?
IGIC stands for "Impuesto General Indirecto Canario" — the Canary VAT. It has multiple rates:
| Rate | Application | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | Basic foods, some books | Bread, water, certain books |
| 3% | Reduced rate | Newspapers, audiobooks, some foods |
| 7% | Standard rate | Most consumer goods |
| 9.5% | Increased rate | Jewelry, furs |
| 13.5% | Special rate | Tobacco (in addition to AIEM) |
| 20% | Luxury rate | Very rare, hardly used |
What is the difference vs. IVA on the mainland?
IVA (Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido) is the Spanish VAT on the mainland with rates of 4%, 10% and 21%. The Canary IGIC completely replaces it.
Advantage for consumers in the Canaries: usually lower taxes than on the mainland (7% vs 21%). Disadvantage: a customs barrier that complicates online shopping from the mainland.
What is AIEM?
AIEM (Arbitrio sobre Importaciones y Entregas de Mercancías en las Islas Canarias) is a special tax on the Canaries. It protects the local industry by making imported competing products more expensive. Areas of application:
- Tobacco: up to 25%
- Alcoholic beverages (spirits, some wines): up to 25%
- Some construction materials: 5–15%
- Specific electronics: 0–10%
Practical tips for regular island shoppers
If you frequently receive parcels in the Canaries:
- Apply for an EORI number — free, simplifies future DUA shipments
- Get an NIE in time — at the police or Spanish consulate
- Find preferred senders — some online shops ship without issues, others refuse
- Plan combined orders — one larger order every 2–3 months
- ImportCanariasFacil subscription (€48.95/month) pays off from ~6 shipments/month
What to do in disputes?
If customs rejects your declaration or charges higher rates than expected:
- Written appeal to the Aduana (within 30 days)
- Consult a tax advisor (cost €80–200)
- Contact Canary consumer protection (OMIC) for carrier issues
- Online forum for Canary residents (e.g., Tenerife forum) — many have similar experiences
Frequently asked questions — extended
Are there allowances for personal shipments?
Yes. Personal shipments under €22 value are usually IGIC-free, but the customs declaration is still mandatory. That is the smallest threshold.
How do Lanzarote and Tenerife differ in customs?
Functionally identical. The main customs offices are in Las Palmas (for the eastern islands) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (for the western islands). Shipments are usually routed to the nearest customs office.
Can I have parcels sent to a friend who handles the customs declaration?
In theory yes. In practice, the NIF/NIE of the declared recipient is used. If your friend clears it, their NIE goes on the H7.
What if I live in the Canaries but have no NIE?
Then you need one before you can receive parcels from the mainland. Apply at the Spanish police (Extranjería).
Do Brexit rules apply?
Yes. Shipments from the UK have been treated as third-country imports since 2021 → DUA-required from €150, customs duties 0–17%, higher carrier fees.